Sen. John Cornyn to leave Senate Armed Services Committee

With his new assignment as second-in-command of Senate Republicans, Sen. John Cornyn signaled today that he will relinquish his membership on the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee in order to retain seats on the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Cornyn outlined his plans as Senate leaders continue to weigh committee assignments for Democrats and Republicans in the Congress that takes office in January.

Democrats and two independent allies control the Senate majority with 55 seats. Republicans have 45 seats.

Senate rules limit committee assignments to only two of the most demanding committees, forcing Cornyn to give up his post on the armed services panel that has jurisdiction over the Pentagon and U.S. military bases including those in Texas.

The Senate Finance committee handles tax legislation as well as the financial side of health care legislation – a sensitive issue in the next Congress as Republicans attempt to roll back some provisions of Obama-care.

The Senate Judiciary Committee reviews judicial nominations including those for the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as exercising jurisdiction over hot button issues such as immigration reform.

Cornyn, a former state supreme court justice in Texas and a former attorney general in Texas, said his assignment on the Senate Judiciary Committee was part of his DNA as a career-long lawyer, judge, law enforcement officer and now a senator.

Cornyn said he and Senator-elect Ted Cruz would work out ways to protect Texas’ interests by divvying up committee assignments.

His post as GOP whip will enable him to “weigh in on any issue” whether or not he has a seat on the Senate committee with jurisdiction, the second term senator explained.

Cornyn said he would “stay intimately involved” with armed services and veterans issues and would be in “perhaps a stronger position as whip” to protect Texans’ interests.